System and method of providing universal mobile internet proxy printing

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method to enable printing on legacy devices. The method includes discovering a legacy device that does not have a universal record that enables the legacy device to provide services to a mobile device through a network, appending the universal record for the legacy device, transmitting the universal record for the legacy device to a controller, receiving, at the controller and from the mobile device, a request for services which can be provided by the legacy device, transmitting, from the controller and based on the universal record for the legacy device, data associated with the legacy device to the mobile device to yield transmitted data and transmitting, based on an acceptance of the transmitted data by the mobile device, a service request from the mobile device to the legacy device for providing a service to the mobile device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/575,479, filed on Jan. 13, 2022, which in turn, is a Continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 16/788,021, filed on Feb. 11, 2020, now U.S.Pat. No. 11,243,722, which in turn, claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/803,660, filed on Feb. 11, 2019, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to network technology and morespecifically to wide area service gateways and new approaches to provideaccess to legacy service devices.

BACKGROUND

Some plug-n-play device technologies provide zero-touch servicediscovery and distribution for mobile devices. For example, AppleBonjour technology provides zero-touch service discovery anddistribution for plug-n-play mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, etc.These services include residential or enterprise-class printerssupporting the Apple AirPrint Bonjour Specification. The Apple printingstandard defines print capabilities announcement and discovery based onMulticast DNS (Domain Network System) protocol as defined in RFC(Request for Comments) 6762 specification. The printing vendors arerequired to adhere to the specification for providing print services todriver-based end-points such as desktops and to driverless mobileend-points such as iPhone and iPads. The mobile end-points rely onAirPrint capable printers supporting universal drivers to dynamicallydiscover and use the print services over the network. Hence, it isimportant that the printers providing such services are certified tosupport Universal Mobile Printing solution in the network.

However, across all verticals (enterprise, education, commercial,airports, etc.) it is very common to find legacy printers that may notsupport plug-n-play services such as Universal AirPrint services. Legacyservice end-points continue to provide basic printing functions. As theyprovide such functions, the end-points become incompatible withconstantly evolving mobile user end-points in the network. It becomeschallenging to justify increased costs for network-wide printer upgradessimply to enable Universal Mobile Internet Printing solution for theseevolving end-points. Until an upgrade, the printing solution remainsunavailable to mobile users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the principles briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific examples thereof which are illustratedin the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict onlyexemplary concepts of the disclosure and are not therefore to beconsidered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein aredescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication network with a printer and adriver-based printer client and driver-less mobile printer client;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an example network architectureincluding a legacy device such as a legacy AirPrint-capable printer andprinter clients;

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an example network architectureincluding a legacy device such as a legacy printer and the appending ofuniversal printer data;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an example flow process of a network;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method example;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example network device in accordance with variousexamples; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computing device architecture, inaccordance with some examples.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE CONCEPTS

Various examples described within the disclosure are discussed in detailbelow. While specific implementations are discussed, it should beunderstood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A personskilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components andconfigurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure.

Various examples are discussed in detail below. While specificimplementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is donefor illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant artwill recognize that other components and configurations may be usedwithout parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, thefollowing description and drawings are illustrative and are not to beconstrued as limiting. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certaininstances, well-known or conventional details are not described in orderto avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an example inthe present disclosure can be references to the same example or anyexample; and, such references mean at least one of the examples.

Reference to “one embodiment”, “an example” or “an embodiment” meansthat a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconnection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment ofthe disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodimentsmutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features aredescribed which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinarymeanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in thespecific context where each term is used. Alternative language andsynonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein,and no special significance should be placed upon whether or not a termis elaborated or discussed herein. In some cases, synonyms for certainterms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not excludethe use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in thisspecification including examples of any terms discussed herein isillustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope andmeaning of the disclosure or of any example term. Likewise, thedisclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in thisspecification.

Without intent to limit the scope of the disclosure, examples ofinstruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according tothe examples of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titlesor subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader,which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unlessotherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have themeaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art towhich this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the presentdocument, including definitions will control.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forthin the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosedprinciples. The features and advantages of the disclosure can berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and otherfeatures of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, or can be learned by thepractice of the principles set forth herein.

OVERVIEW

Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media thataddress the above technical issues and others. For example, a switching,wireless, and/or network controller system may be configured to bridgethe gap between multi-vendor legacy printers and next-generation mobileend-points. In some examples, a digital network architecture (DNA)service for a solution in a DNA-center (DNA-C) and supporting agentdevices are augmented to eliminate the above-mentioned mobile printingchallenge. The service discovery gateway (SDG) agent can dynamicallydiscover legacy AirPrint (or similar protocol) printers in the networkand automatically append required service records to provide end-to-endtransparent mobile printing solutions with seamless integration andwithout making forklift printing equipment upgrades and changes inoverall network design, software or operations. This solution remainsconsistent and interoperable with Apple AirPrint Bonjour Specificationstandards allowing the co-existence of latest generation certifiedAirPrint Printers with legacy non-Airprint Printers, yet provideend-to-end serviceability and transparency. These legacy standards thatare mentioned are only mentioned by way of example. Other legacystandards may also apply and be relevant to this disclosure. Thus, thisdisclosure is not limited to any specific printing standard. This isparticularly true in that the disclosure covers any end-point servicethat might be accessed from a device.

Disclosed are methods and systems to enable printing or other servicesto be performed or access from legacy devices. An example methodincludes discovering a legacy device that does not have a universalrecord that enables the legacy device to provide services to a mobiledevice through a network, appending the universal record for the legacydevice, adding the legacy service-related records in local servicedatabase, transmitting the universal record for the legacy device to acontroller, receiving, at the controller and from the mobile device, arequest for services which can be provided by the legacy device,transmitting, from the controller and based on the universal record forthe legacy device, data associated with the legacy device to the mobiledevice to yield transmitted data and transmitting, based on anacceptance of the transmitted data by the mobile device, a servicerequest from the mobile device to the legacy device for providing aservice to the mobile device.

While Apple specifications and Apple devices are mentioned herein, thedisclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular brand and canapply to any service-related specification, any type of mobile devicesand any type of service component such as a printer or device thatprovides another type of service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apple Bonjour technology provides zero-touch service discovery anddistribution for plug-n-play mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad etc.This service includes residential or enterprise-class printerssupporting Apple AirPrint Bonjour Specification. The Apple printingstandard defines print capabilities announcement and discovery based onMulticast DNS protocol on common local are network (LAN) and wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) network segments. The printing vendors arerequired to adhere to the specification for providing print services todriver-based end-points such as desktops and to driverless mobileend-points such as iPhone and iPads. As noted above, the printingcontext can be expanded to any service component which may not beaccessible to a remote device due to a particular specification to whicholder devices may not conform.

Thus, while the example is provided for a printer service, thespecifications and services can vary beyond printing services. FIG. 1illustrates a basic network 100 with a driver-based printer client 102,an AirPrint capable printer 104 and a mobile printer client 106.Driver-Based printer clients 102 transmit standard Internet PrintingProtocol (_ipp), IPP over a secure socket layer (SSL) (_ipps) or LineDaemon Printing (_printer) signals to dynamically discover printers 104in a local segment of a network. An AirPrint capable printer 104responds with its source information and all other advanced capabilitiesto use with installed drivers. The mobile end-points 106 aredriver-less, and rely on AirPrint capable printers 104 supporting theuniversal driver to dynamically discover and use the service over thenetwork. They can have base serviceability with the sub-pointer (sub-PTRor sub-pointer) service of IPP and IPPS (Internet Printing Protocol overSSL). However, such end-points 106 may have limited access to use allAirPrint printing functions. Hence it is important the printers 104providing such services are certified to support Universal MobilePrinting solution in the network.

However, across all verticals (enterprise, education, commercial,airports, etc.), it is very common to find legacy printers that may notsupport Universal AirPrint services, as they do not support AirPrintdriver-less capabilities in printer firmware. FIG. 2 illustrates anetwork 200 having a controller 202, a service discovery gateway-1(SDG-1) 204, an SDG-2 206 and an SDG-3 208. An AirPrint printer 210 ison the network as well as a non-AirPrint printer 212. A display 214 isshown on the network 200 as well as a mobile device 216. As such legacyservice end-points (legacy printers 212) continue to provide basicprinting functions with driver-based discovery and processing, theybecome incompatible with constantly evolving mobile user end-points inthe network, and the mobile devices 216 may be unable to discover suchprinters (PRN-2 212) in the network 200 due to a lack of theircapabilities. It becomes challenging to justify increased cost fornetwork-wide printer upgrades simply to enable Universal Mobile InternetPrinting solution for these evolving end-points 216.

The disclosure next provides some background on the Cisco Wide AreaBonjour solution. While Cisco is mentioned as an example solution, thesolution of course can be applied by any provider and is not limited toany particular brand or implementation. The Cisco Wide Area Bonjoursolution enables the Universal Mobile Printing solution in an end-to-endnetwork environment. The Bonjour service discovery and distributionprocess is defined based on IT policy in two tier levels—Local and WideArea Bonjour service domains. The distributed SDG (service discovergateway) agents, which in one aspect can be Cisco catalyst switches thatcontain policies and perform service discovery, service caching andservice filtering functions, discover AirPrint capable printers and allassociated records including IPv4 and IPv6 data from its local layer 2segments and export the database to a central controller 202, such as,for example, the Cisco DNA-C Wide Area Bonjour Application. The printdiscovery messages from driver-based end-points from LAN or driver-lessmobile end-points from WLAN are optimally remote service proxied fromquerying SDG agents. The controller 202 will perform policy lookup anddistribute all service records transparently, providing end-to-endservices management.

Note in FIG. 2 that the local service export of data from SDG-1 204 tothe controller 202 highlights that what is missing from the non-AirPrintprinters is the sub-PTR (pointer) data, which is the sub-pointer(sub-PTR) service of IPP and IPPS (Internet Printing Protocol over SSL).The sub-PTR typically is a record that is used to point a client devicelooking for a printing service to the proper device providing thatservice. However, there is no sub-PTR record for the non-AirPrintprinters announced from legacy printers.

According to various examples and shown in FIG. 3 , a digital networkarchitecture (DNA)-center controller networking system 300 bridges thegap between multi-vendor legacy printers 212 and next-generation mobileend-points 216. The Cisco DNA service for Bonjour solution in DNA-centerand supporting agent devices 204, 206, 208 are augmented in one exampleto eliminate the mobile printing challenge mentioned above. Of coursethis disclosure is not limited to a particular brand or digital networkarchitecture and the concepts can apply to an networking system. Theservice discovery gateway (SDG) agent 204, 206, 208 can dynamicallydiscover legacy Air-Print printers 212 in the network and automaticallyappend required service records 302 to provide end-to-end transparentmobile printing solution with seamless integration and without makingforklift changes in overall network design, software or operations. Thissolution remains consistent and interoperable with Apple AirPrintBonjour Specification standards allowing the co-existence of latestgeneration certified AirPrint printers 210 with legacy non-AirPrintprinters 212, yet provide end-to-end serviceability and transparency.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the appended data for the non-AirPrint printer 212is, for example, “PRN-2._universal._ipp._tcp.local and PRN-2._universalipps.tcp.local.” 302 is automatically created for each announced pointer(PTR) such as IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) and IPPS. This recorddata is added in local service database 218 also exported to thecontroller 202 as shown in data 304.

Various examples of the subject technology are developed based on anunderstanding of AirPrint certified printers 210, the legacynon-AirPrint printers 212, and the mobile end-points 216. Further, thesolution is also carefully aligned with the Apple AirPrint BonjourSpecification to assure it abides with the standards. If anotherspecification or standard is used, the solution will be aligned with therespective standard. These examples improve upon and leverage theMulticast DNS (mDNS) protocol specifications described in RFC 6762 andidentify the mobile printing requirements that are proxied or assistedby intermediate Ethernet, Wireless and Cisco DNA-center controllernetwork systems providing Universal Mobile Printing solution acrossend-to-end Enterprise LAN|WLAN|WAN network infrastructure.

Various examples introduce advancements by adding a new set ofintelligence in dynamically discovering and detecting AirPrint vsnon-AirPrint capable end-points in Cisco IOS (Internetwork OperatingSystem) catalyst switching software. The Cisco IOS software isreferenced as only an example of a family of operating systems withnetwork switches, routers, wireless controllers and access points. Theextended capability uses the industry standard Multicast DNS protocolbetween the catalyst switch and the printers. The catalyst switchprovides augmented software capabilities in a wide area Bonjour networkdomain that can represent the legacy AirPrint capable printer allowingremote mobile and driverless end-points such as the Apple iPhone, iPador other device to dynamically discover and use all provided functionsand services that a printer or other service providing device can offer.This proxy function can be implemented with exclusive settings onspecific segments of the network that administrators can apply to enablethis innovation.

Various examples provide for Cisco IOS software that can dynamicallydiscover missing universal driver printing records, and cache andautomatically append the sub-PTR for each print service types (i.e. _ippand _ipps) for specific legacy printers to solve the key customernetwork challenge. The mobile devices now dynamically receive allrequired service records for end-to-end mobile service offerings.

In various examples, the IOS software is not limited to printingcapabilities; rather, the catalyst switch provides the ability toshort-fill additional multi-function services such as scanner of alegacy printer, or other services such as speech processing, videoservices, audio services, connectivity services, marketing services,sales services, and so forth.

Various examples relate to targeted Multicast DNS service records foruniversal drivers, all original advertised records such as PTR(Pointer), SRV (service), TXT (Text), A (IPv4) and AAAA (IPv6) records(used to find the IP address of a device based on name connected to theInternet) remain intact within Local Area Bonjour domain or across WideArea Bonjour domain. Since universal driver records is a Multicast DNSPTR sub-record, the Cisco IOS software automatically aligns TTL(time-to-live) value advertised by PTR records in original advertisementby the legacy device. In addition, the system automatically appendsuniversal driver sub-records to each printing protocol-type, includingInternet Printing Protocol (IPP), IPP over SSL (IPPS) or Line ProtocolDaemon (LPD).

FIG. 4 illustrates an overall flow 400 for a per-printer andper-print-service workflow for the universal mobile print servicealgorithm. In FIG. 4 , the SDG 402 can receive and transmit acommunication related to a print service announcement. The algorithm canrelate to seeking out and preparing non-AirPrint printers to be able toprint from mobile devices. The SDG 402 it is associated with a localarea database. The announcement 404 or flow can first proceed to an IPv4segment of the local area network. If the service announcement complieswith the local area policy 410, the request passes and the variousprinting devices are queried. If the printing device 418 is an AirPrintdevice that already has universal sub-PTR data, then the algorithmignores appending a mobile print service record 430. If the printingdevice is more of a legacy device 420, then the algorithm requiresappending the universal sub-PTR data 432. If a local area policy 412does not allow the request or for some reason does not enable thisalgorithm to proceed, then the service announcement is dropped 422.

The print service announcement can also be delivered serially or inparallel to an IPv6 segment of the local area network 408. If the printservice announcement passes a local policy 414, then the systemidentifies a printer that already has universal sub-PTR data 424 andignores appending a mobile print services record number 434. For aprinter 426 that is a legacy printer, the algorithm causes the system toappend the universal sub-PTR data 436. If the local area policy fails416, then the print service announcement is dropped 428. Again, thisalso applies to any device providing any service.

Various examples provide an augmented technology and it is integratedwith existing Cisco DNA services for Bonjour solution supportingend-to-end policy-based Wide Area Bonjour services management. The CiscoDNA service for Bonjour is Cisco's system and the industry's only WideArea Bonjour solution supporting policy management, security, location,scale and performance.

With the concepts disclosed above, customers (mobile devices) can enablea mobile Internet printing solution in the network that may consist oflegacy printers. The Ethernet switched network devices can introduceadvanced software capabilities to dynamically detect such legacyprinters and automatically append key sub-records that can enableend-to-end multi-function services discovery and distribution for mobileend points to use transparently.

Various examples leverage catalyst switches and iOS softwareinfrastructure to provide cost-effective and non-disruptive mobileservice solution without making major forklift upgrades of legacy butfunctional devices. The concepts disclosed above can be claimed from thestandpoint of any device disclosed in the network, such as from a legacyprinter, a legacy service-providing device, a mobile device, a SDG, acontroller or other components or combination of components within theoverall network.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method example. A method can include one or more ofdiscovering, by a service discovery gateway, a legacy device that doesnot have a universal record that enables the legacy device to provideservices to a mobile device through a network (502), appending, by theservice discovery gateway, the universal record for the legacy device(504), transmitting, from the service discovery gateway, the universalrecord for the legacy device to a controller (506), receiving, at thecontroller and from the mobile device, a request for services which canbe provided by the legacy device (508), transmitting, from thecontroller and based on the universal record for the legacy device, dataassociated with the legacy device to the mobile device to yieldtransmitted data (510) and transmitting, based on an acceptance of thetransmitted data by the mobile device, a service request from the mobiledevice to the legacy device for providing a service to the mobile device(512). As noted above, the method can also be covered from thestandpoint of other devices participating in the process.

The legacy device can include a printer, a scanner, a database, or anyother device that provides a service such as speech processing orartificial intelligence services. The universal record can include asub-printer record for a print services type. This can also beapplicable to other devices or other service types as well. The printservices type can include one or more of the IPP Internet Printingprotocol, the IPPS Internet Printing Protocol over the Secure SocketsLayer protocol or the LDP Line Daemon Printing protocol. Similarprotocols can apply where other services are made available to mobiledevices using these principles.

The discovering, by the service discovery gateway, of the legacy devicethat does not have a universal record that enables the legacy device toprovide services to a mobile device through a network further canfurther include identifying a non-legacy device that includes arespective universal record and not appending the universal record tothe non-legacy device. The appending, by the service discovery gateway,of the universal record for the legacy device, in one aspect, can bebased on whether a local area policy allows the appending of theuniversal record to occur. The service discovery gateway can beassociated with a local area network and the controller is associatedwith a wide area network.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example network device 600 suitable forimplementing aspects of this disclosure. In some examples, the controlplane 310 and/or the secure video processor (SVP) 318 may be implementedaccording to the configuration of the network device 600. The networkdevice 600 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 604, interfaces 602,and a connection 610 (e.g., a PCI bus). When acting under the control ofappropriate software or firmware, the CPU 604 is responsible forexecuting packet management, error detection, and/or routing functions.The CPU 604 preferably accomplishes all these functions under thecontrol of software including an operating system and any appropriateapplications software. The CPU 604 may include one or more processors608, such as a processor from the INTEL X86 family of microprocessors.In some cases, processor 608 can be specially designed hardware forcontrolling the operations of the network device 600. In some cases, amemory 606 (e.g., non-volatile RAM, ROM, etc.) also forms part of theCPU 604. However, there are many different ways in which memory could becoupled to the system.

The interfaces 602 are typically provided as modular interface cards(sometimes referred to as “line cards”). Generally, they control thesending and receiving of data packets over the network and sometimessupport other peripherals used with the network device 600. Among theinterfaces that may be provided are Ethernet interfaces, frame relayinterfaces, cable interfaces, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) interfaces,token ring interfaces, and the like. In addition, various veryhigh-speed interfaces may be provided such as fast token ringinterfaces, wireless interfaces, Ethernet interfaces, Gigabit Ethernetinterfaces, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) interfaces, HSSI interfaces,Point of Sale (POS) interfaces, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)interfaces, WiFi interfaces, 3G/4G/5G cellular interfaces, and the like.Generally, these interfaces may include ports appropriate forcommunication with the appropriate media. In some cases, they may alsoinclude an independent processor and, in some instances, volatile RAM.The independent processors may control such communications intensivetasks as packet switching, media control, signal processing, cryptoprocessing, and management. By providing separate processors for thecommunications intensive tasks, these interfaces allow the CPU 604 toefficiently perform routing computations, network diagnostics, securityfunctions, etc.

Although the system shown in FIG. 6 is one specific network device ofthe present technologies, it is by no means the only network devicearchitecture on which the present technologies can be implemented. Forexample, an architecture having a single processor that handlescommunications as well as routing computations, etc., is often used.Further, other types of interfaces and media could also be used with thenetwork device 600.

Regardless of the network device's configuration, it may employ one ormore memories or memory modules (including memory 606) configured tostore program instructions for the general-purpose network operationsand mechanisms for roaming, route optimization and routing functionsdescribed herein. The program instructions may control the operation ofan operating system and/or one or more applications, for example. Thememory or memories may also be configured to store tables such asmobility binding, registration, and association tables, etc. The memory606 could also hold various software containers and virtualizedexecution environments and data.

The network device 600 can also include an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), which can be configured to perform routingand/or switching operations. The ASIC can communicate with othercomponents in the network device 600 via the connection 610, to exchangedata and signals and coordinate various types of operations by thenetwork device 600, such as routing, switching, and/or data storageoperations, for example.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computing device architecture 700 of anexample computing device which can implement the various techniquesdescribed herein. The components of the computing device architecture700 are shown in electrical communication with each other using aconnection 705, such as a bus. The example computing device architecture700 includes a processing unit (CPU or processor) 710 and a computingdevice connection 705 that couples various computing device componentsincluding the computing device memory 715, such as read only memory(ROM) 720 and random access memory (RAM) 725, to the processor 710.

The computing device architecture 700 can include a cache of high-speedmemory connected directly with, in close proximity to, or integrated aspart of the processor 710. The computing device architecture 700 cancopy data from the memory 715 and/or the storage device 730 to the cache712 for quick access by the processor 710. In this way, the cache canprovide a performance boost that avoids processor 710 delays whilewaiting for data. These and other modules can control or be configuredto control the processor 710 to perform various actions. Other computingdevice memory 715 may be available for use as well. The memory 715 caninclude multiple different types of memory with different performancecharacteristics. The processor 710 can include any general purposeprocessor and a hardware or software service, such as service 1 732,service 2 734, and service 3 736 stored in storage device 730,configured to control the processor 710 as well as a special-purposeprocessor where software instructions are incorporated into theprocessor design. The processor 710 may be a self-contained system,containing multiple cores or processors, a bus, memory controller,cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or asymmetric.

To enable user interaction with the computing device architecture 700,an input device 745 can represent any number of input mechanisms, suchas a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture orgraphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. Anoutput device 735 can also be one or more of a number of outputmechanisms known to those of skill in the art, such as a display,projector, television, speaker device, etc. In some instances,multimodal computing devices can enable a user to provide multiple typesof input to communicate with the computing device architecture 700. Thecommunications interface 740 can generally govern and manage the userinput and computing device output. There is no restriction on operatingon any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic featureshere may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmwarearrangements as they are developed.

Storage device 730 is a non-volatile memory and can be a hard disk orother types of computer readable media which can store data that areaccessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cartridges,random access memories (RAMs) 725, read only memory (ROM) 720, andhybrids thereof. The storage device 730 can include services 732, 734,736 for controlling the processor 710. Other hardware or softwaremodules are contemplated. The storage device 730 can be connected to thecomputing device connection 705. In one aspect, a hardware module thatperforms a particular function can include the software component storedin a computer-readable medium in connection with the necessary hardwarecomponents, such as the processor 710, connection 705, output device735, and so forth, to carry out the function.

For clarity of explanation, in some instances the present technology maybe presented as including individual functional blocks includingfunctional blocks including devices, device components, steps orroutines in a method embodied in software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media expresslyexclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves,and signals per se.

Methods according to the above-described examples can be implementedusing computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwiseavailable from computer readable media. Such instructions can include,for example, instructions and data which cause or otherwise configure ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network.The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, orsource code. Examples of computer-readable media that may be used tostore instructions, information used, and/or information created duringmethods according to described examples include magnetic or opticaldisks, flash memory, universal serial bus (USB) devices provided withnon-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on.

Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can includehardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety ofform factors. Some examples of such form factors include general purposecomputing devices such as servers, rack mount devices, desktopcomputers, laptop computers, and so on, or general purpose mobilecomputing devices, such as tablet computers, smart phones, wearabledevices, and so on. Functionality described herein also can be embodiedin peripherals or add-in cards. Such functionality can also beimplemented on a circuit board among different chips or differentprocesses executing in a single device, by way of further example.

The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computingresources for executing them, and other structures for supporting suchcomputing resources are means for providing the functions described inthese disclosures.

Although a variety of examples and other information was used to explainaspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of theclaims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements insuch examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use theseexamples to derive a wide variety of implementations. Further andalthough some subject matter may have been described in languagespecific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it isto be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claimsis not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. Forexample, such functionality can be distributed differently or performedin components other than those identified herein. Rather, the describedfeatures and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systemsand methods within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim language reciting “at least one of” a set indicates that onemember of the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim. Forexample, claim language reciting “at least one of A and B” means A, B,or A and B.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: appending, by a service discoverygateway, a universal record for a multi-function legacy deviceassociated with a network, wherein the multi-function legacy deviceprovides services; transmitting, from the service discovery gateway, theuniversal record for the multi-function legacy device to a controller toyield a stored universal record; receiving, at the controller and from amobile device, a request for a service which can be provided by themulti-function legacy device, wherein the service is separate from aprinting service; and providing, based on the stored universal record,the service from the multi-function legacy device to the mobile device.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-function legacy deviceprovides services comprising one or more of scanning services, speechprocessing services, video services, audio services, connectivityservices, marketing services and sales services.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the universal record comprises a record for a respectiveservices type comprising one or more of scanning services, speechprocessing services, video services, audio services, connectivityservices, marketing services and sales services.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein the respective services type comprises one or more of arespective protocol associated with the respective services type.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: discovering, by the servicediscovery gateway, the multi-function legacy device, wherein themulti-function legacy device does not have the universal record thatenables the multi-function legacy device to provide services to themobile device through the network and wherein the discovering, by theservice discovery gateway, of the multi-function legacy device furthercomprises identifying a non-legacy device that includes a respectiveuniversal record and not appending the universal record to thenon-legacy device.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein appending, by theservice discovery gateway, the universal record for the multi-functionlegacy device is based on whether a local area policy allows theappending of the universal record to occur.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the service discovery gateway is associated with a local areanetwork and the controller is associated with a wide area network.
 8. Asystem comprising: a service discovery gateway configured to: append auniversal record for a multi-function legacy device associated with anetwork, wherein the multi-function legacy device provides services;transmit the universal record for the multi-function legacy device to acontroller to yield a stored universal record, wherein the controllerreceives, from a mobile device, a request for a service which can beprovided by the multi-function legacy device, wherein the service isseparate from a printing service; and provide, based on the storeduniversal record, the service from the multi-function legacy device tothe mobile device.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the multi-functionlegacy device provides services comprising one or more of scanningservices, speech processing services, video services, audio services,connectivity services, marketing services and sales services.
 10. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the universal record comprises a record for arespective services type comprising one or more of scanning services,speech processing services, video services, audio services, connectivityservices, marketing services and sales services.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein the respective services type comprises one or more of arespective protocol associated with the respective services type. 12.The system of claim 8, wherein the service discovery gateway isconfigured to discover the multi-function legacy device, wherein themulti-function legacy device does not have the universal record thatenables the multi-function legacy device to provide services to themobile device through the network further is configured to identify anon-legacy device that includes a respective universal record and notappend the universal record to the non-legacy device.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the service discovery gateway configured to append theuniversal record for the multi-function legacy device is based onwhether a local area policy allows an appending of the universal recordto occur.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the service discoverygateway is associated with a local area network and the controller isassociated with a wide area network.
 15. A service discovery gatewaycomprising: a processor; and a computer-readable storage device storinginstructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto: append a universal record for a multi-function legacy deviceassociated with a network, wherein the multi-function legacy deviceprovides services; transmit the universal record for the multi-functionlegacy device to a controller to yield a stored universal record,wherein the controller receives, from a mobile device, a request for aservice which can be provided by the multi-function legacy device,wherein the service is separate from a printing service; and provide,based on the stored universal record, the service from themulti-function legacy device to the mobile device.
 16. The servicediscovery gateway of claim 15, wherein the multi-function legacy deviceprovides services comprising one or more of scanning services, speechprocessing services, video services, audio services, connectivityservices, marketing services and sales services.
 17. The servicediscovery gateway of claim 15, wherein the universal record comprises arecord for a respective services type comprising one or more of scanningservices, speech processing services, video services, audio services,connectivity services, marketing services and sales services.
 18. Theservice discovery gateway of claim 17, wherein the respective servicestype comprises one or more of a respective protocol associated with therespective services type.
 19. The service discovery gateway of claim 15,wherein the computer-readable storage device stores additionalinstructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto: discover the multi-function legacy device, wherein themulti-function legacy device does not have the universal record thatenables the multi-function legacy device to provide services to themobile device through the network and wherein the discovering of themulti-function legacy device further comprises identifying a non-legacydevice that includes a respective universal record and not appending theuniversal record to the non-legacy device.
 20. The service discoverygateway of claim 15, wherein appending the universal record for themulti-function legacy device is based on whether a local area policyallows the appending of the universal record to occur.